Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-23

ana WlEenou OlQ PcIer pcrKlnS got INTO
his old overcoat and went home through
the streets where the snow lay thick and
heavy until he reached his comfortable
looking three story house. After he rang
the bell he muttered to himself:
81 might just as well have only given
Mark 81 instead Of 50. He'd a'been just
as thankful, and I'd a'saved that much,
And ell those things there-why, l could
have sold them at a discount, but then,
after it all, l was losing ground in church
custom by what they call my stinginess,
and DOW, well, l guess after all I'm glad
| give them. The poor who get them can't
complain Oh, here she comes at last! And
she will expect a present, tool 1t seems
as if everybody was beset Christmas time!
I'm sick of it. Hal'
At this instant Mrs Warner, who was
servant and housekeeper both, opened the
door, her rather long face wreathed in
smiles and her form dressed in her best
black silk gown. Peter Perkins was as
tonished and surprised as she led the way
| to the dining room, where the OLE, mans
| dinner was laid, for on the table smoked
Il splendid turkey, while several other
| dainty and toothsome dishes stood about,
among them a noble mince pie that gave
| out mellow, luscious odor that mortal
could not withstand, and yet he turned,
| saying flercely:
Mary Warner Who gave you author
, ity to do this? Why, here is dinner
enough for twenty, and such extrava-
gance! told you this morning | didn't
believe in holiday nonsense and told you
| to cook half mackerel and potato,
| didn't I%'
You did, sir, and 1 was going to do it:
| only this morning my sister in the coun-
| try sent me Christmas box, and these
were in it, and as I couldn't cat them ali
myself made bold to offer you half, sir.
and no offense, I hope"
"Oh well, that alters the case. Well,
| yes, don't care if do" and he allows
himself to fall in the chair she pushed for
| ward, and he fell to and in a short time
had eaten most excellent dinner, which
he finished with great golden doughnut
| and piece of cheese. He '.ook these as in
dream, one in each hand, and made
alternate bites of doughnut and cheese in
reflective and even retrospective man
nor as he thought:
why don't city folks learn to make
crullcrs like this? For love nor money
you couldn't buy anything like this in all
this great city. They taste lust as
| mother used to make them. Her tin
cruller box was never empty and how
good they We're; tho older they were the
meilower and better they were. I re-
| member she used to make me a boy and II
mouse every time she fried crullers. and
always two P's for my letters And
| Christmas and New Years she put car
away seed candies all over mine. l Won
der how she did it. That mince pie was
GOOD. think | will take another piece
1t hain't cost anything and it makes me
think of old times"
And so the misery old man sat and ote
untu MS usual bedtime came, when he lii
ms candle, for he never would have ras
and went to bed
scarcely had he got warm and comfort
aoie "hen he saw standing by his bedside
stranger whose face was carefully
turned away, and who wore q long, loose
s"rihent OF some unknown fashion, and
lhstlnctlyely Peter Perkins put his hand
under his pillow after his revolver, think
ing Oh ROBBERS, but the stranger said in n
low voice, which yet had such authority
disobey: A0'
Arise, dress yourself and follow me.
AS III dream the little miser followed,
| - NHN 81 oNllly llau he could
not see where they were going min NJ
last the stranger said:
open your eyes and tell me what vo,,
see.n '''o "iiaU you
Peter Perkins stood and gazed with lis
Wlzehcd face pale and frightened Uo
seemed to be in a vast place, so vast that
NJ, appeared to be visible illimitable space
mere was no beginning nor end to anv.
where and yet he was there in fine midst
oi TINS 1nflnity Of distance, and before
nm upon nothing stood great tables unon
Wnleh was piled heterogeneous collection
OF everything Imaginable, and while he
was irving to understand this confusion
nc noticed that there had appeared. ronl
On rank and file on file, limitiess count unit
LESS oISS numbers of cherubim and seraphim.
ana IN the midst of this throng sat mon
y u,Ss'al throne Christ, the benign, the
io'lhS' the pititul, and his features seemed
10 eXude sweetness and mercy from ever,
Ineament, and his smile was lnofrohl;
tender. inoAaolN
| The cbarrli. ,